1 March
Far East, Burma
The Chindits’ 16th Brigade crosses the Chindwin River, as Chinese forces and Merrill’s Marauders (a US commando force) under General Joseph Stilwell, advance toward Myitkyina.
2 March
Politics, Allies
The Allies cut off all aid to Turkey due to its government’s reluctance to help their war effort.
5-11 March
Far East, Burma
Brigadier Mike Calvert’s 77th Brigade of the Chindits begins landing by glider at two selected points codenamed ‘Broadway’ and ‘Piccadilly’ in the Kaukkwe Valley, northern Burma. During the first lift, 61 gliders are used, although only 35 reach their target. By the 11th, the whole of Calvert’s brigade has been flown in.
7 March
Home Front, Germany
Members of the Nazi organization for women are making house-to-house calls to recruit females between the ages of 17 and 45 to work ‘in the service of the community.’ This is to bolster Germany’s depleted labor force.
7-8 March
Far East, Burma/India
Operation U-Go, the Japanese offensive to drive the Allies back into India by destroying their bases at Imphal and Kohima, begins with moves to sever the Tiddim to Imphal road. The Japanese 33rd Division has orders to cut off the 17th Indian Division at Tiddim and force the British to commit their reserves to rescue it, while the 31st and 15th Divisions are to cross the Chindwin farther north and fall on Imphal and Kohima.
8 March
Air War, Germany
The US 8th Army Air Force launches a massive daylight precision raid on the Erker ball-bearing works, Berlin. A total of 590 aircraft mount the raid. There are 75 direct hits on the target, but the Americans lose 37 aircraft. This is the third US raid on Berlin under the escort of P-51 Mustang fighters. It results in the halting of ball-bearing production for some time.
11 March
Eastern Front, Ukraine
General Rodion Malinovsky’s 2nd Ukrainian Front reaches the Bug River, brushing aside resistance from the German Eighth Army. The Germans hope to halt the Red Army on this great water barrier.
11-12 March
Far East, Burma
In the Arakan, northern Burma, the Allies recapture Buthidaung and then surround and capture the Japanese fortress at Razabil.
15-16 March
Far East, Burma/India
The Japanese 15th and 31st Divisions cross the Chindwin River between Homalin and Thaungdut and move forward with the intention of cutting the Imphal to Kohima road.
15-17 March
Italy, Cassino
Allied aircraft launch a massive raid against the unoccupied monastery of Monte Cassino (which is later criticized by the Vatican). The New Zealand 2nd Division then launches an assault that takes Peak 193. During the evening the 4th Indian Division attacks and captures Peak 165. All Allied attacks on the 16th are frustrated, but on the 17th a breakthrough by the New Zealanders takes Cassino railroad station. They fail, though, to complete the encirclement of the town itself.
18 March
Eastern Front, Ukraine
The Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front has reached the Dniester River and seized a large bridgehead at Mogilev Podolsky. This has split the German Army Group South’s Front in two and has put the Red Army in a position to advance to the Romanian Frontier.
19 March
Politics, Hungary
With the Red Army rapidly approaching the Balkans, Hitler has sent troops to occupy the country. Admiral Mikl—s Horthy, the regent, has been ordered to appoint a pro-Nazi premier, allow the German Army to take over the transport system, and give the SS a free hand in deporting Hungarian Jews to concentration camps.
Italy, Cassino
A German counterattack against Peak 193 is unsuccessful but has loosened the Allied stranglehold. A New Zealand armored assault against the monastery is destroyed.
20-22 March
Italy, Cassino
Despite further Frontal attacks by New Zealand troops under General Harold Alexander, the German defenders, veterans of the 1st Parachute Division, remain in and around the monastery and repulse all efforts to dislodge them. On the 22nd, therefore, Alexander halts all Frontal assaults.
24 March
Far East, Burma
Major General Orde Wingate, the commander of the Chindits, is killed in a plane crash. A charismatic and controversial figure, Winston Churchill has called him a ‘man of genius and audacity’ following the success of his long-range penetration missions in Burma.
28 March
Eastern Front, Ukraine
As the Germans retreat in haste from the waters of the southern Bug River, Nikolayev falls to the Red Army. The 3rd Ukrainian Front is now developing an assault toward the port of Odessa.
29 March
Far East, India
The Japanese 20th Division establishes itself on the Shenam Saddle near Imphal. Japanese forces have cut the Imphal to Kohima road and begun the siege of Imphal.
30 March
Politics, Germany
Hitler, outraged at the Soviet victories in the Ukraine, has dismissed two of his field marshals - Erich von Manstein and Paul von Kleist - for disregarding his ‘stand fast’ orders. In addition, the Nazi leader believes that the army in the Ukraine has put up weak resistance against the Soviets.
Far East, Burma
The Chindits’ 16th Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Bernard Fergusson, retreats following its failure to take the main Japanese supply base at Indaw.
30-31 March
Air War, Germany
A night raid by the RAF against Nuremberg results in little damage to the city but substantial losses are inflicted on the aircraft involved. The RAF loses 95 out of the attacking force of 795 bombers, with a further 71 damaged.